Game 2 of the NLCS gives us our showdown slate Tuesday at FanDuel, with first pitch at 8:08 p.m. EDT. The Brewers managed just two hits in Game 1 and have an uphill battle to even the series with the Dodgers sending Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound, though they did get him for five runs in just 0.2 innings during the regular season.
Milwaukee counters with Freddy Peralta, who has allowed five runs and three homers in 9.2 postseason innings. He faced the Dodgers twice in the regular season and faired decently, allowing four runs and 10 hits across 11.0 innings, fanning 11. The total for this matchup sits at a reasonable 7.5 runs with the Dodgers (-124) as slight favorites.
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MVP
Freddie Freeman, LAD at MIL ($15,600/$10,400): This is by far the toughest decision we're faced with Tuesday, as there are so many quality options. I think good arguments can be made for William Contreras ($12,000/$8,000) on up for our multiplier option. Freeman feels the safest, which may not be the best answer for a tournament, but paying this premium you can't afford a zero either. Freeman's only RBI in the postseason so far came on last night's homer, but he's got seven hits, four for extra bases, while adding three walks and four runs scored. He's just 6-for-26 (.231) off Peralta, but has taken him deep.
Utility
Shohei Ohtani, LAD at MIL ($21,000/$14,000): The clear and most obvious play on the slate that you likely have to use, and then figure out the rest. The MVP salary increase is so massive however, putting Ohtani there would leave you with just a $7,800 average for the rest of your lineup, making it a complete stars and scrubs build. Not paying the premium for the multiplier, you're left with a palatable $9,200 average, making balance or a second top-end option possible. Ohtani is 3-for-9 with two homers off Peralta.
Brice Turang, MIL vs. LAD ($10,800/$7,200): Turang is a cheap option that I wouldn't hate plugging in at MVP. He hits in the heart of the order, giving him ample RBI chances, but he's been very hit or miss of late, with two double-digit scoring outings and four games of three or zero fantasy points during the postseason. He had a .352 wOBA and 127 wRC+ off righties during the regular season.
Max Muncy, LAD at MIL ($9,300/$6,200)
Andrew Vaughn, MIL vs. LAD ($9,000/$6,000)
I'm lumping these two together as the profile is the same. They're power options that are virtually all or nothing, which makes far more sense in tournament showdowns than a regular-season full lineup build. Muncy hasn't homered since September 20th and isn't guaranteed a full game of at-bats, but he does have five hits, four runs and four walks in the postseason. Maybe there is a non-zero floor here.
Vaughn has homered twice in the postseason and took Yamamoto deep in his only at-bat against him. I don't recommend using both, and if you prefer a safer profile with less ceiling, Sal Frelick ($8,100/$5,400) or Tommy Edman ($8,700/$5,800) are your plays. You're unlikely winning a tournament using both of those safer options though, so perhaps a Vaughn/Edman combo is the fit.
Enrique Hernandez, LAD at MIL ($5,700/$3,800): Playoff Kike seems like a real thing. He's 9-for-26 (.346) with four runs, four RBI and three walks across seven games. He's 2-for-5 off Peralta to boot. He's so cheap you have to assume a near 100 percent roster rate, and I honestly don't even hate the thought of putting him in the MVP slot and loading your lineup with stars across the rest of your build.
